Kit Review

Review of 1/72 scale kit

Revell /Matchbox Comet Mk 1 A34 in 1/76 Scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 5 Comments

After building the Revell Morris tractor and 17pdr kit with the cool diorama base thingy this kit caught my eye on eBay. Another bargain with no box, but who needs the box anyway. I found a picture of the actual box on the internet so there it is. This kit was just a nice, relaxed evening’s work I think. It did not take long to build straight out of the box, but very nice all the same. It comes with his own diorama base of a hillock, and some tank tracks over a puddle and a burnt-out tree stump. Not much to tell you apart from I enjoyed making it. The tracks are the rubber kind that you just glue and stretch around the wheels, I think my glue dissolved one of the joins so i had to do some improvising on where I managed to hide the join. All the bits go together nicely, but it does show it’s age when you compare to a newer version of the same vehicle from a company like Vespid. I took a photo of them together to show the difference. The Vespid kit was very nice and larger in scale at 1/72, compared to the Matchbox/Revell kit at 1/76. I added some aerials from plastic to match a photo I had seen somewhere, but apart from that did very little to change the model. I particularly liked the little base and spent some time decorating and making the puddle look puddly with some gloss varnish. Most enjoyable all round. I now have found a copy of Monty’s Caravan from the same range which is next in the queue. Fun times!

Esci Dodge Weapons Carrier in 1/72 Scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 4 Comments

This is the second Dodge I have built from Esci/Italeri. I think the kit is actually out of production so the only place to find it is eBay or second hand somewhere. One of my favourite truck vehicles of WW2. The first version I built I was not aware of the issues with the suspension height of this kit, so the second time around I was ready to fix my mistakes! It is an old kit and you can tell from all the mouldings it has been around a while. Some flashy bits here and there plus some seam lines and ejection marks, some of which I fixed and some of which I missed. The main problem is that the hull sits too high on the chassis if you build the kit straight from the instructions. So some surgery and some messing around chopping off bits of the axle will get you to point where the suspension looks correct. I should have taken a before picture too, but the gap between the wheel arches and the wheels looked double compared to my finished truck in the pictures. The plastic tarpaulin supplied with the kit is also too big and unrealistic. So I returned to my tissue paper and PVA glue technique to carefully make my own tarp cover for the back. Once painted it is quite convincing as a canvas, and definitely more so than plastic. I also added some tiny windshield wipers and a windshield from clear plastic. The winch was finished off with some woolen yarn wrapped around and painted. The original decals still worked fine with plenty of softener, especially on the bonnet. My driver is from AB figures as usual and he will slot nicely into the driver seat. I did finish this off with some flock and tufts on the base, and a good dose of earthy dusty powders. It’s a great little vehicle!!

Academy Dodge Ambulance in 1/72 scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 5 Comments

Been a while, been very slow, not finishing anything, starting many things! Buying stuff too. This has been the pattern. Lots of input and very little output. Like Christmas day really. Another truck and another super little model from Academy. I did not have any medical vehicles for my allied forces so this fills a hole for sure. I have so far built the Academy German Fuel truck and their boxed set of Jeep, Kettenkrad and Kubelwagen, both of which were excellent kits.

This truck was great to put together. As usual all I ask is that things fit together easily, and it is obvious where all the bits are meant to go. I only made the truck and left the towing tractor for some other time. I added some brilliant PE windscreen wipers, but that was the only additional detail. They are super fiddly but using blutack on the end of a cocktail stick to pick them up, plus my super glue that dries clear for windows, and things turn out ok! The kit comes with some excellent decals that need a bit of patience to get right due to their size. It is easy to fold them up and make a mess but some perseverance and they come out looking fine. I did some gloss varnishing pre-decals then some brown washing followed by a layer of matt varnish on top. Decal softener is a must here to get the decals to lay flat into all the surfaces. This was a most enjoyable build, and now I have another Academy US Truck and also halftracks in the queue. See what I said before, more inputs! I am struggling taking decent photos of anything so apologies for the short cut holding the finished model in my hands. It’s the quickest way for me to get things done.

IBG Models Bedford Truck in 1/72 Scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 5 Comments

Another great little kit from IBG. I finished the QLT which took me ages with all the occupants and extra tweaking I did. This is the QLD so a shorter wheelbase and I guess more for carrying things than people. I always enjoy making these IBG kits. Everything fits, the plastic is easy to work with, lots of detail but not too fiddly. I can go on and on. This guy I added some really cool, but teeny tiny, windscreen wipers (photo etch from Hauler) which I think finish it off nicely. My blog buddy Pete suggested a great transparent super glue which worked a treat so I did not get glue all over my windscreen and ruin everything. I also add the tissue paper tarpaulin which looks way better than the flat plastic supplied. At the bottom of the tarp I made an attempt to recreate the straps holding it on using the same plastic bristles I use for aerials. I think that was all the modifications I made. It’s a super little truck and goes well the other Airfix Bedfords I have in the collection. Recently I bought two new kits from IBG Models – their Daimler Armoured Car and a sawn off Daimler too, which I am very excited to build.

IBG Models Bedford QLT in 1/72 Scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 5 Comments

I have been away for a month for work and then a very nice holiday so making and painting things been on hold for a while. Happy to be back with one of my favourite model kit makers IBG Models of Poland and their most excellent range of trucks. This time it is a British Bedford QLT. Airfix make an excellent version of this truck so I was excited to see how the much newer IBG kit measured up. I have yet to make an IBG model that disappointed and this one was true to form. Nice plastic, good details, perfect fits all round and easy to follow instructions. The only criticism i have with these is sometimes the connection points are a bit thick, but hey I am splitting hairs a bit there. Amendments I made to the it were the addition of some super cool PE windscreen wipers from Hauler. Tricky to get right as they are tiny but look great. I also removed the tarp sides and replaced them with rolled up foil and wire straps. The top of the tarp i covered with tissue paper and PVA glue. The original plastic was really plain and the rolled sides lacked detail. So i was happy the affect i got with my improvements. Decals were super and you get heaps of choice (3 or 4 vehicles).

I filled the back with some SHQ and some spare Caesar and Plastic Soldier Company seated figures. They are mainly in shadow so was quite quick with my paint jobs on them. No need to waste my best AB figures filling up the back. I was happy with the full looking truck, I think in reality these babies carried a full platoon of men (36+)? Here he is parked up and disembarking a section who look pretty relaxed. Its nice to be back at home with my paints out on the dining room table!

Revell Morris C8 tractor and 17 pdr and Jeep in 1/76 Scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 13 Comments

Another super nostalgic kit I weakened and paid quite a few dollars for on eBay. This one from Revell, but I think was originally a Matchbox kit, include the Morris Tractor, a 17 pdr gun and a Jeep. Plus the usual diorama base type thingy that you would always get with these kits. Loved this kit as a 13 year old, but when I made it the first time I twisted things off sprues, got glue everywhere and never painted a thing. What a treat to remake this excellent little kit. Great to put together, super instructions and heaps of decals. I had a blast making this properly the second time around with only a gap of 40 years….. I think this is the best rendition of a Willy’s Jeep I have found in plastic, and I reckon the only one of a Morris Tractor available. The Jeep is a bit small compared to my other 1/72 scale stuff but it looks good anyway. This will be my only Morris Tractor so it fits in nicely with everything larger scale as there is no direct comparison. I added some extra rubble to the street and ruins to make the join between the road and the house less noticeable. Painting was all olive drab with some black mickey mouse camo on the tractor and gun. Dusty powders on everyone. Revell even give you a cool Boulangerie decal for the ruin. Bonus. I am now tempted to grab a few more of these 1/76 Matchbox/Revell kits as they are such fun.

ACE Citroen Traction Avant 11 CV in 1/72 Scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 4 Comments

Happy New Year!! It has been a little slow getting things finished as overseas guests and Christmas holidays got in the way. But this little Citroen from ACE Models found its way onto my dining room table and was first off the queue for 2024! I thought I could use this as an emergency transport on the tabletop or just some extra cover on the streets of Normandy. It is a tiny little kit with tiny little parts. Luckily it was quite easy to put together and i did not lose any bits for the vacuum cleaner to pick up. I struggled with the body not fitting flush onto the chassis which leaves a bit of a gap around the boot area but nothing too serious. I painted the seats a nice red brown before putting the body on top. It was a struggle getting windows and the windshield in without making a big old mess. When the windshield needs to be slightly curved I need some kind of more flexible clear plastic. Then there is the problem of not getting glue on the plastic, but having enough glue to make sure the windows stay in place. Tricky business. I painted this a nice light grey and used some metallic silver to highlight the chromey bits on the car like the hub caps. The decals were nice and worked well, of course being extremely tiny they tested out my eyes and manual dexterity……

IBG Models Diamond T 968 Cargo Truck

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 7 Comments

I love IBG kits. They are always the most enjoyable kits to build. I also love trucks. So this was fun times in a box from my Eastern European friends. It’s a big six wheeler cargo truck with lots of room in the back for supplies and stuff or a bunch of troops if you like. This model is a breeze to put together with plenty of well fitting parts, in nice easy to cut and glue plastic. The only things missing are some windscreen wipers, which i neglected to bother adding, and I had to redo the head light protectors. They were moulded in solid plastic so i remade them using fly screen mesh and some wire. The actual windscreens and windows are provided in clear plastic, and I always struggle to keep glue off them when adding to the cab. The rear struts over the rear cargo deck were also a little fiddly to get in the right spot. Patience required!

Nice decals as always finish him off. I added a couple of AB figures GIs having a cup of coffee and a chat amongst some boxes and barrels and small arms. Oh and a bazooka just in case they run into something more sizeable! Love IBG kits, have an armoured Chevrolet truck in the queue….. excited……..

ICM Krupp L2h143 KFZ 70 German Light Army Truck

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 5 Comments

I had already built a very nice version of this vehicle from Dragon Models, and was so keen to try another one, this time from ICM. Cheaper than its Dragon peers, but as usual you get what you pay for. I did not enjoy building this kit. The worst bit are the rear axles and suspension which are overly complex and delicate. I had to add some extra plastic to shore everything up, and also managed to lose and break plenty of the bits. It is all underneath and invisible anyway so a whole lot of stress and time wasted over nothing. I don’t remember what else was particularly annoying, I think the instructions and lack of numbering on the parts also just bugs me. Also, pretty grumpy this week fighting some nasty flu so annoying kits not getting much love. …… On the good side, once you have finished the frustrating build, it does turn into a nice little truck. I added some thin plastic for the windshield, and if I had more patience would have put some wipers on there too. I did a dusty windscreen and removed the areas where the wipers would have wiped. Did a plain dark yellow paint job and some chipping with a spongey sponge. The drivers are from AB Figures of course and always look the part. I have six SS dudes in Autumn camo ready to load up into the back, will take a photo of the full truck when I can. So I think these days I am just getting a bit fussy over kits that are annoying to build. There is a big difference between a challenging kit and an annoying kit………..

Plastic Soldier Company Horch Heavy Car in 1/72 scale

~ Colonel Mustard ~ 9 Comments

Another truck. This time a German heavy car that I picked up from The Plastic Soldier Company in the UK. They sell their kits in singles as well as in boxes of 3-5, so very handy to pick up smaller items. I think they had a sale which sucked me in to buying a heap more of their kits. I always really enjoy making their models. Limited number of parts, go together really nicely, plastic that is easy to cut, sand and glue, and overall detail good enough for the wargames table. I can get through a model in an evening no problem and get it all painted up by Sunday tea time.

This one is a cool truck, comes with a few options which is always nice. I went with the windows and full roof. In hindsight I may have used my tissue paper canvas roofing for this, although the detail on the tilt is much better than the last PST shenanigans. I did add some thin plastic for the windows and windshield. I struggle with vehicles with no glass in the windscreen. Imagine the dirt, dust and bugs in your face. Dark yellow finish with some chipping was the uniform for this guy. You get plenty of passengers to put in the back, but don’t waste too much time on them as you really cannot see anything but shadows back there. Different story if you leave the roof off. I used decals from my supplies as you do not get any with the model. Based on 3mm MDF as usual with some powders and tufties. I have him here towing his Pak40 (Airfix) and also with his Pak40 deployed with AB Crew.